The increasing competition on today’s globalized markets creates drivers for new business models in order to create competitive advantage. By integrating services with the physical product, unique offers that aim at fulfilling customer needs rather than just providing physical goods can be created. This type of offers, in the literature often referred to as Product-Service Systems (PSS), are more difficult to imitate than pure products. Furthermore, the focus on fulfilling customer needs rather than just providing physical goods can reduce the use of resources, decreasing both costs and the environmental impact of the offer. From the customers’ point of view, PSS offers can bring increased flexibility and reduced risk. The development of successful PSS offers requires structured methods. Much of the research within the area, and consequently models and guidelines, has focused on large companies. However, since small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) constitute the foundation of economic growth in all developed countries, there is an important gap in the existing research within this area. One research initiative to fill this gap is the ongoing IPSE project (Integrated Product and Service Engineering), which aims at developing a methodology for efficient development of PSS offers in manufacturing SMEs. The methodology developed in the IPSE project is however at a conceptual level that is not applicable for the management in smaller companies. This thesis hence aims at developing a concrete and useful business development method applicable for the management in manufacturing SMEs, with the focus on generation of PSS offer concepts. Based on earlier research within the PSS area, with the emphasis on the IPSE methodology, a concrete business development method for the generation of PSS concepts was created, which was then tested on three SMEs in order to verify and improve the method. The method consists of the three steps internal analysis, external analysis and planning of the new PSS offer. Each step contains a number of tools to be used in order to analyze different aspects of the business context. After analyzing the studies of the three case studies a revised method was developed, which was then summarized in managerial guidelines to be used by managers in manufacturing SMEs. The revision of the method mainly regarded simplifications of some of the tools in order to ease the use and increase the applicability. The method proved to be useful and concepts could be generated for all the case companies. The method thoroughly examined the possibilities of creating PSS offers, even though it was found that it was also useful for the development of conventional business offers. Since the drivers for the case companies were specific threats or opportunities that would require changes in the offer, rather than a purpose in itself to integrate more services in the offer, this implies that the method can be useful as general business development method for manufacturing SMEs. An important learning from our studies is that the day-to-day business is strongly focused by the managers in manufacturing SMEs, leaving little time for long-term business development. As stated by a manager in the case companies: “It is like running beside the bicycle, but we do not have the time to get on it.” The developed method can work as a tool for structuring the information needed in the business development process and hence reducing the time needed. However, if the reduction in time needed for long-term business development is enough to get the managers on their bikes is a question assigned to further studies.

<p>The increasing competition on today’s globalized markets creates drivers for new business models in order to create competitive advantage. By integrating services with the physical product, unique offers that aim at fulfilling customer needs rather than just providing physical goods can be created. This type of offers, in the literature often referred to as Product-Service Systems (PSS), are more difficult to imitate than pure products. Furthermore, the focus on fulfilling customer needs rather than just providing physical goods can reduce the use of resources, decreasing both costs and the environmental impact of the offer. From the customers’ point of view, PSS offers can bring increased flexibility and reduced risk. The development of successful PSS offers requires structured methods. Much of the research within the area, and consequently models and guidelines, has focused on large companies. However, since small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) constitute the foundation of economic growth in all developed countries, there is an important gap in the existing research within this area. One research initiative to fill this gap is the ongoing IPSE project (Integrated Product and Service Engineering), which aims at developing a methodology for efficient development of PSS offers in manufacturing SMEs. The methodology developed in the IPSE project is however at a conceptual level that is not applicable for the management in smaller companies. This thesis hence aims at <em>developing a concrete and useful business development method applicable for the management in manufacturing SMEs, with the focus on generation of PSS offer concepts</em>.</p><p>Based on earlier research within the PSS area, with the emphasis on the IPSE methodology, a concrete business development method for the generation of PSS concepts was created, which was then tested on three SMEs in order to verify and improve the method. The method consists of the three steps <em>internal analysis</em>, <em>external analysis </em>and <em>planning of the new PSS offer. </em>Each step contains a number of tools to be used in order to analyze different aspects of the business context. After analyzing the studies of the three case studies a revised method was developed, which was then summarized in managerial guidelines to be used by managers in manufacturing SMEs. The revision of the method mainly regarded simplifications of some of the tools in order to ease the use and increase the applicability.</p><p>The method proved to be useful and concepts could be generated for all the case companies. The method thoroughly examined the possibilities of creating PSS offers, even though it was found that it was also useful for the development of conventional business offers. Since the drivers for the case companies were specific threats or opportunities that would require changes in the offer, rather than a purpose in itself to integrate more services in the offer, this implies that the method can be useful as general business development method for manufacturing SMEs.</p><p>An important learning from our studies is that the day-to-day business is strongly focused by the managers in manufacturing SMEs, leaving little time for long-term business development. As stated by a manager in the case companies:</p><p><em>“It is like running beside the bicycle, but we do not have the time to get on it.”</em></p><p><em></em>The developed method can work as a tool for structuring the information needed in the business development process and hence reducing the time needed. However, if the reduction in time needed for long-term business development is enough to get the managers on their bikes is a question assigned to further studies.</p><p> </p>

In the recent years, more and more manufacturing firms recognize the benefit of providing products together with related services with an aim to gain higher profits as compared to supplying products without additional services. On the other hand, the competition in the global markets has been increased dramatically through increased sales of services in order to gain additional value for their products. In addition, several environmental challenges such as climate change, pollution, global warming impact, greenhouse gases emissions have played a vital role by influencing on the production protocols and trend of the companies. These challenges forced manufacturing countries to take into consideration environmentally conscious approach to their design thinking and industrial production processes. As a result, it became an important drive for manufacturing industries to shift from traditional product-oriented to service-oriented business models that has been witnessed during the last few years.   The objective of this study research is to develop common questions that capture fundamental and common issues about Integrated Product Service Engineering (IPSE), Design for Environment (DFE) and Engineering education are effectives for industries to check and develop their knowledge, because the Engineering education plays a necessary role in associating socio-ethical knowledge with scientific and technological advances. The strategy taken to conduct this thesis task was first to study and understand the concept of Product Service System (PSS), IPSE, and Ecodesign as well as Engineering Education. Informative knowledge on these concepts were collected by reviewing several related journal articles, CIRP IPS2 conference proceedings.   In this thesis the concepts of PSS, IPSE, DFE and Engineering Education discussed to develop the key common questions and issues to address the environmental, economic and social problems. Since PSS aims to reduce consumption through alternative schemes of product use as well as to increase overall resource productivity and dematerialization, but IPSE does not focus on a single factor but incorporates a wide range of factors such as environmental, social and economic issues. Whilst one of the main problems in this research focused on how to develop and strengthen the relationship between the academia and industry, and how this relation can be used to improve the academic performance and scientific research at universities and transfer them to industry.   Sustainability and the life cycle concept have become a main solution for various problems such as a growing world population and a change in the industrial culture to come. As results Ecodesign and environmental considerations, financial aspects, product improvement as well as the commercial aspects were discussed in this project by understanding the previous concepts. The university considered as an important base of cultivating the talents, basic of inputs business organizations which help them to develop and improve their level of performance and quality of their products and services, and enhance its competitive position in the market. Changes in organized science further encouraged university interests in expanding technology transfer, because the scientific disciplines play an important role in influencing the type of interactions with industry as well as the University and Industry collaboration became the basic method of solving the problems to achieve (environmental, economic and social) sustainability.

Essa tese realiza, em um primeiro momento, uma investigação sobre a vinculação e o diálogo que pensamento de Paul Ricoeur estabelece com outras tendências filosóficas, em especial aquelas formuladas por Wilhelm Dilthey, Martin Heidegger e Hans-Georg Gadamaer e com a fenomenologia de Edmund Husserl, com ênfase em seu método fenomenológico. Nesse momento, também apresenta o diálogo que Paul Ricoeur mantém com a filosofia reflexiva de Nabert e as críticas que faz às chamadas filosofias do sujeito, em especial ao Cogito cartesiano. Apresenta dessa forma, os principais conceitos da filosofia hermenêutica, desde Friedrich Shcleiermacher, seu principal precursor, até Hans- Georg Gadamer, com ênfase na contribuição que Paul Ricoeur oferece para esse campo. Em um segundo momento, este trabalho examina a aplicação, por Paul Ricoeur, dos conceitos de sua hermenêutica na exegese que faz da Poética de Aristóteles, precisamente do ternário mimesis, muthos e katharsis. Apresenta, em seguida, a reinscrição que Ricoeur promove de seus resultados em uma teoria da narratividade, que ele chama de metagênero do narrativo. Este trabalho faz um recorte nesse metagênero, passando a acompanhar apenas o desenvolvimento promovido por Ricoeur que dá lugar à narrativa de ficção. Em seguida, examina esses conceitos, que se endereçam para a constituição da hermenêutica do si e tem na noção de identidade narrativa seu principal núcleo. No último momento, este trabalho realiza uma apropriação, no sentido gadameriano, dessa noção promovendo uma aproximação dela com o universo ficcional de Grande sertão:veredas, de João Guimarães Rosa. Por último, de forma muito breve, apresenta uma síntese das principais decorrências éticas, no sentido aristotélico, dessa noção. / This argument holds, in a first moment, a research on the linkage and dialogue that Paul Ricoeur establishes with other philosophical trends, especially those made by Wilhelm Dilthey, Martin Heidegger, Hans-Georg Gadamaer and Edmund Husserl, with emphasis on the phenomenological method. At that time, it also shows the dialogue that Paul Ricoeur maintains with Naberts reflective philosophy and the critics made to the philosophies of the self, in particular the Cartesian Cogito. Thus presents the main concepts of hermeneutic philosophy, since Friedrich Shcleiermacher, its principal precursor, until Hans-Georg Gadamer, with emphasis on the contribution that Paul Ricoeur offers for this field. Later, this work examines the application done by Paul Ricoeur of the concepts of his hermeneutic at the exegesis done at Aristotles Poetics, precisely the mimesis ternary, Muthos and katharsis. Then it shows the reinscription that Ricoeur promotes of his results on a theory of narrative, which he calls \"narrative meta-category. This work highlights this meta-category, monitoring only the development promoted by Ricoeur giving rise to the fiction narrative. Then examines these concepts, which address for the establishment of the \"hermeneutics of self\" and the core is the narrative identity notion. After that, this work takes ownership, in a gadamerian sense, of notion promoting an approach with the fictional universe of Grande Sertão Veredas, from João Guimarães Rosa. Finally, very briefly, presents a summary of the main ethical consequences, the Aristotelian sense, of that notion.

Essa tese realiza, em um primeiro momento, uma investigação sobre a vinculação e o diálogo que pensamento de Paul Ricoeur estabelece com outras tendências filosóficas, em especial aquelas formuladas por Wilhelm Dilthey, Martin Heidegger e Hans-Georg Gadamaer e com a fenomenologia de Edmund Husserl, com ênfase em seu método fenomenológico. Nesse momento, também apresenta o diálogo que Paul Ricoeur mantém com a filosofia reflexiva de Nabert e as críticas que faz às chamadas filosofias do sujeito, em especial ao Cogito cartesiano. Apresenta dessa forma, os principais conceitos da filosofia hermenêutica, desde Friedrich Shcleiermacher, seu principal precursor, até Hans- Georg Gadamer, com ênfase na contribuição que Paul Ricoeur oferece para esse campo. Em um segundo momento, este trabalho examina a aplicação, por Paul Ricoeur, dos conceitos de sua hermenêutica na exegese que faz da Poética de Aristóteles, precisamente do ternário mimesis, muthos e katharsis. Apresenta, em seguida, a reinscrição que Ricoeur promove de seus resultados em uma teoria da narratividade, que ele chama de metagênero do narrativo. Este trabalho faz um recorte nesse metagênero, passando a acompanhar apenas o desenvolvimento promovido por Ricoeur que dá lugar à narrativa de ficção. Em seguida, examina esses conceitos, que se endereçam para a constituição da hermenêutica do si e tem na noção de identidade narrativa seu principal núcleo. No último momento, este trabalho realiza uma apropriação, no sentido gadameriano, dessa noção promovendo uma aproximação dela com o universo ficcional de Grande sertão:veredas, de João Guimarães Rosa. Por último, de forma muito breve, apresenta uma síntese das principais decorrências éticas, no sentido aristotélico, dessa noção. / This argument holds, in a first moment, a research on the linkage and dialogue that Paul Ricoeur establishes with other philosophical trends, especially those made by Wilhelm Dilthey, Martin Heidegger, Hans-Georg Gadamaer and Edmund Husserl, with emphasis on the phenomenological method. At that time, it also shows the dialogue that Paul Ricoeur maintains with Naberts reflective philosophy and the critics made to the philosophies of the self, in particular the Cartesian Cogito. Thus presents the main concepts of hermeneutic philosophy, since Friedrich Shcleiermacher, its principal precursor, until Hans-Georg Gadamer, with emphasis on the contribution that Paul Ricoeur offers for this field. Later, this work examines the application done by Paul Ricoeur of the concepts of his hermeneutic at the exegesis done at Aristotles Poetics, precisely the mimesis ternary, Muthos and katharsis. Then it shows the reinscription that Ricoeur promotes of his results on a theory of narrative, which he calls \"narrative meta-category. This work highlights this meta-category, monitoring only the development promoted by Ricoeur giving rise to the fiction narrative. Then examines these concepts, which address for the establishment of the \"hermeneutics of self\" and the core is the narrative identity notion. After that, this work takes ownership, in a gadamerian sense, of notion promoting an approach with the fictional universe of Grande Sertão Veredas, from João Guimarães Rosa. Finally, very briefly, presents a summary of the main ethical consequences, the Aristotelian sense, of that notion.

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